Mental illness is exactly what it says it is: an illness. Yet too often, others openly trivialize people suffering from these illness. The stigma that exists for individuals suffering from mental illness is often one of the worst aspects of having these diseases.

In fact, according to the United States surgeon general, stigma is the biggest barrier to mental health care. There are many reasons for this, but a huge factor is that stigma is not always intentional. Well-meaning friends can often be the worst offenders. Continue reading →

KUALA LUMPUR: Society must discard its stigma against people with mental health problems because such an attitude only makes it more difficult for these people to come forward for treatment, said an expert.

Dr Uma Visvalingam, a consultant psychiatrist at Putrajaya Hospital, said there was prejudice against them because most people had misconceptions about their condition.

“They do not really understand the difference between mental illness and mental health problems. The two conditions have different medical approaches. Continue reading →

Drew Merrett has thrown his support behind charity runs before but the Merrett Home Hardware Run For Mental Health is one really dear to his heart.

Merrett Home Hardware is the title sponsor for the downtown run Sept. 10 with presenting sponsor Bell Let’s Talk. It will feature a 10K run, 5K run and a 2.5K family and children’s walk/run. Details were unveiled during a press conference Thursday at Runner’s Life. Continue reading →

These too-often-believed myths can be harmful to you and your loved ones. Find out the facts from experts and women so you can help fight stigma and stay well.​

When Annie Powell, 35, was in the midst of a 72-hour manic episode in February 2013, she felt like Superwoman: productive and energetic. “I went to the gym for a 5:30 a.m. class, worked all day, came home and went to the gym again with my family. Then, I stayed up all night and organized my office, worked more, cleaned the house and did laundry,” says Annie.

Once the two-plus days ended, however, she crashed and fell into a deep depression. “I sat in the basement and stared at the wall for hours,” says Annie. Continue reading →

I am a neurotic Jewish mother living in New York City with my two children, ages five and eight. It’s a familiar story here in the Big Apple. Where my story starts to diverge, however, is with my mental health. Unlike many of my fellow mothers, I am not just neurotic—I live with a panic disorder, PTSD, depression, and ADHD. On paper this looks overwhelming (no pun intended). But like so many of us living with mental illness, my diagnoses don’t define me, nor are they immediately apparent. Upon meeting me, it’s unlikely you’d feel something was particularly “wrong” with me. I come across as quirky, funny, and maybe a little anxious. But I certainly don’t look like the stereotypes we see in pop culture—you know, like the cast of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest? (Thanks for that, Jack Nicholson.) Continue reading →

Mass killings such as the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings are happening with greater frequency, but is mental illness to blame as much as the media portrays it to be? A new study argues no.

On the heels of the mass murder in Orlando, Florida, the worst mass shooting in the history of the United States, it may come as no surprise that a new study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has found a disturbing trend among leading media outlets: associating mental illness with violence, despite the fact that it plays a role in less than five percent of violent acts committed in the U.S. Continue reading →

The results offer a striking look at the level of stigma and shame still surrounding mental illness with 42 per cent of respondents saying they would be embarrassed to admit if they did have a mental health issue. Continue reading →